Breadcrumb
College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
The College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS) is an artistic, creative, and intellectual community. It is an equitable partnership of staff, faculty, and students who are devoted to teaching, learning, and collaboration. The many fields within CAHSS provide the greatest breadth for service-learning, creative engagement, and professional opportunity within a diverse and changing society.
Hands-on Experience
Our programs and majors offer many unique opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom including student performances, studios, laboratories, newsrooms, internships, and more. Hands-on learning enriches the student, the university, and the community, tying academic study to real-world experiences.
Study Abroad
Studying abroad is an exciting way to enhance an undergraduate experience through exposure to different cultures, languages, and communities. Travel, explore, embrace new environments, all while making progress toward graduation.
Personal Attention
It’s the difference between sitting through a lesson and playing a role in creating it. Feel challenged by faculty who expand students’ worldview and supported by departments that pride themselves on personalized attention.
Dr. Armeda Reitzel
Communication
Dr. Armeda Reitzel, Professor Emeritus, delivered an invited presentation titled "The Triple A’s of Ancillaries: Advancing Academic Achievement" at the 2025 LIbreFest held in July. Her talk focused on the benefits of open pedagogy.
Kiera Sladen and Ruth Worthington (Fellows), Tani Sebro and Emily Worms (Program Directors)
Politics
Kiera Sladen and Ruth Worthington (Politics) were selected for the Fall 2025 Youth Voice Youth Vote Student Fellowship through LEAD California for their project entitled, "Empowering Young Voters: A Civic Engagement Series for Underrepresented Communities in Humboldt County." The fellowship will be directed and supervised by Tani Sebro (Chair, Politics) and Emily Worm (Director of the Center for Community Based Learning). This project will empower young voters in Humboldt County through a series of Fall 2025 events at Cal Poly Humboldt, led by the Politics Club. Their campaign will focus on reducing barriers to voting in rural and tribal communities, educating student voters through a nonpartisan voter education workshop, and promoting awareness of voting rights for students who are formerly or currently incarcerated. Through strategic partnerships and community outreach, this project aims to build a stronger culture of civic engagement in historically underserved communities across the North Coast of California.
Vincent Biondo
History
Vincent Biondo served as Visiting Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies for Trinity Term, 2025, and presented new research on the history of waqf, or charitable trusts, and the implications for Christian-Muslim relations, Church-State relations, and Moral Economy.
CAHSS Alumni Updates
Bonnie D Gavey Napier
Sociology, 1967
After Humboldt, Bonnie went on to other degrees, and later became an Occupational Therapist and professor of occupational therapy and physical therapy. The third edition of her textbook, The Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Survival Guide 3rd Edition, will be out this fall.
Devin Theobald
Politics, 2004
After 20 years of service working with the County of Humboldt, Devin moved to rural Northern Alabama with his wife and two daughters, where he started a small family farm raising pigs, turkeys, chickens, and produce. For his 'retirement job', he oversees operations at a small landfill.
Ryan Villafuerte
International Studies, 2021
After graduating from Cal Poly Humboldt (HSU), Ryan pursued a Master's degree in International Relations, focusing on Russia and the Soviet Sphere and the rise of Putinism during the War in Ukraine. He graduated with a distinction from the University of Kent Canterbury, and he decided to stay in the United Kingdom and entered the hospitality industry.
He worked in different high-end 4 to 5-star hotels in London, ranging from corporate hotels in the City of London, and now he currently works in East London, dealing with different high-profile clients in and around Canary Wharf and East London.
Being Trilingual English (native), French (Fluent C2), Spanish (professional C1), and having an international background helped him gain the skills and knowledge that he has learned from his time in Humboldt, as well as in Kent, the negotiation skills and multilingual skills when dealing with high profiled clients. Especially the high-profile corporations located in London.
He currently deals with hotel Revenue and Reservations and helps the Sales team bring business to his main hotel, making it one of the most popular hotels in the London Docklands area.
Upcoming Events
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CAHSS News
- Climate Magic: New Podcast Explores the Emotional Side of Climate Action
- University Takes Big Step Toward Carbon Neutrality with Support from Arcata Community Forest
- Move-in Day Welcomes Students to Humboldt
- Cores to Code Trains Next Generation of Earthquake Scientists
- Pelican Bay Scholars Excel in First-of-its-Kind BA Program
- New Media Arts Degree Blends Creative Practice with Tech-Driven Skills